McMahon's taking League Cup seriously

Monday 09th November 2009

THAMESMEAD TOWN manager Keith McMahon says he will field a strong side for Tuesday night's Championship Manager Cup tie against Gary Abbott’s Sittingbourne at Bayliss Avenue, writes Stephen McCartney.

The smallest club in Ryman League Division One North are defying all the offs and go into the second round tie sitting joint-top (second place) with East Thurrock United, following a 5-1 away win at Cheshunt at the weekend.

Former Sevenoaks Town striker, Andy Constable grabbed a hat-trick, with star striker Rikki Cable scoring a brace as Mead’s trip to Hertfordshire kept up their good run of form.

“It’s the most goals we’ve scored in a league campaign since we’ve been in the league in the last two years,” McMahon told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“If I’m honest we didn’t play the best we have all season, but we looked very, very potent going forward and we passed the ball really well. It was a great result for us.”

Speaking about his strike force, McMahon added, “Their goal record is excellent. To be fair it could have been the other way round as AC’s (Constable) third goal was going in from a shot from Rikki and it hit AC, but they’ve settled in really well.

“AC has just come back from a suspension, I’ve signed Joel Greaves as well, who was out injured on Saturday.

“AC has come back in and has taken his chance. Their goal ratio per game has been exceptional. We’ve got three forwards, plus our twins, we’re good going forward at the moment.”

McMahon admits his side are punching above their weight at present, but being top along with East Thurrock is pleasing him going into tonight’s rare Kent derby.

“It’s a position we mostly didn’t dream about,” admitted McMahon. “It’s the highest the club’s ever been, but we’re not getting carried away.

“Most people didn’t think we’d ever be there, it’s only us and the players who believe we’re good enough to be there.

“We’ve got a couple of tough months coming up now so we’ll see how good we are come Christmas, but we’re playing some excellent football, we’re dominating most games and we have to keep going really.

“But I don’t see us being up there with the likes of Lowestoft, with the resources that they’ve got, and East Thurrock, but we’ll just keep going.”

McMahon learnt vital lessons having been dumped out of both the Kent Senior Cup and London Senior Cup by VCD Athletic and Metropolitan Police respectively and has chosen to field a strong side on Tuesday.

“I’m taking it seriously,” he said. “The two games we played in the cup against VCD and Met Police I didn’t take too seriously to be fair, I rested a lot of players.

“The league is the priority but the League Cup is something I believe we can do well in and it’s pretty important, but I won’t risk players with slight injuries.

“I will field a strong side, I’ll give Sittingbourne the respect. Gary’s got a decent side there and they’re going well and we’ll be looking to win.

“I won’t risk anyone who’s tired or has little knocks but we’ll have a strong side out, unlike the other two competitions.”

McMahon will therefore give striker Greaves a fitness test, although James Brown may make a return following a bout of flu. James Campbell’s wife has given birth to their first baby, a boy, leading up to the game and may feature, although midfielder Lea Dawson is definitely ruled out through work commitments.

Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Thamesmead Town v Sittingbourne

Championship Manager Cup Second Round

Tuesday 10th November 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ